Wick Structure of Heat Pipe

Abstract

A wick structure of a heat pipe, having a wick structure attached to an internal wall of a tubular member. The tubular member is fabricated from metal material with good conductive characteristics, and the wick member is formed of a metal mesh and a metal powder. The metal mesh is in the form of a ring attached to an internal wall of the tubular member, and the metal powder is embedded in the interstices of the metal mesh. The wick structure is attached to the internal wall of the tubular member by sintering, such that a wick structure with a villiform structure is formed. Thereby, the peeling or fracture tendency of the wick structure during the mechanical process of the heat pipe avoided. In addition, the axial rod used for the sintering process is not required, such that the cost is greatly reduced.

1 . A heat pipe comprising: 
 a tubular member made of metal material; and    a wick structure installed inside the tubular member, comprising a metal mesh in form of a wound hollow cylinder to be attached to an internal wall of the tubular member and a metal powder dispersing over the metal mesh and the internal wall, such that some particles of the metal powder embedded in interstices of the metal mesh and spread on surface of the metal mesh and other particles of the metal powder penetrated the metal mesh through the interstices to combine the metal mesh integrally attached to the tubular member during a sintering process.    
   
   
       2 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member includes an open end and a close end, and the metal mesh extends towards an internal bottom surface of the close end.  
   
   
       3 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member has a fusion point higher than those of the metal mesh and the metal powder.  
   
   
       4 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the metal mesh has a perimeter slightly larger than an internal perimeter of tubular member.  
   
   
       5 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the metal powder has a fusion point lower than that of the metal mesh.  
   
   
       6 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the particles of the metal powder have a dimension substantially smaller than that of the interstices.  
   
   
       7 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the particles include a plurality of fine broken fibers.  
   
   
       8 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , further comprising a support member disposed in the tubular member to press the wick structure against the internal wall of the tubular member.  
   
   
       9 . The heat pipe of  claim 8 , wherein the support member has a fusion point higher than those of the metal mesh and the metal powder.  
   
   
       10 . The heat pipe of  claim 8 , wherein the support member includes a plate spiral structure.  
   
   
       11 . The heat pipe of  claim 8 , wherein the support member includes a linear spiral structure.